A LONG-SERVING headteacher who was awarded an OBE for her services to education has died.

Burnley-born Joyce Moore, 84, was in charge at Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School in Oswaldtwistle for more than 20 years.

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Described as ‘very influential’, she was the first female headteacher of a comprehensive appointed in East Lancashire.

Miss Moore was secretary and then president of the Lancashire division of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and in 1995 she was awarded an OBE for service to education.

She was born in Harle Syke and began her teaching career in Kent becoming national president of the NUT Young Teacher Section and travelling to the USA on a union scholarship.

She spent 26 years at Rhyddings before retiring in 1998, but continued her links with the school and union, keeping up to date with education issues for the rest of her life.

Miss Moore died of pneumonia at Royal Blackburn Hospital on Thursday.

Paul Trickett, headteacher at Rhyddings, said he worked with her for five years.

He said: “It is really sad for the school. She was one of the longest serving and probably one of the most influential headteachers.

“She was the first female head of a comprehensive in East Lancashire.

“She fought hard to get facilities for the school.

“She fought for many years to get a pavilion put on the Heys playing field and never succeeded but I was pleased to invite her to open it as a result of a £1.1million project. Her association with the school continued after she retired.

“She would fight for the rights of teachers and students across the area.”

Miss Moore appointed Mr Trickett as deputy headteacher in 1993.

“She gave me my first opportunity to move into leadership and encouraged me to move onwards and upwards.

“She will be missed and the school will make sure it is represented at her funeral”, he said.

Simon Jones, Lancashire representative for the NUT, said: “Joyce was a stalwart for the NUT for decades.

“She was a regular at union meetings in Lancashire and was always able to offer sound advice from her years of experience and never shied away from challenging situations she didn’t agree with and weren’t in the best interest of members and the children they teach.”

“Her passing is a sad loss to the union and the education service.”

She was also a member of the Oswaldtwistle Civic Society and Twinning Society as well as the NSPCC, Crossroads, which supports carers, and global women’s organisation Soroptomists International.

Tributes were also paid to her on Facebook.

Elizabeth Hewitt said: “She was a kind lady with a great sense of humour and will be greatly missed by those who knew her.”

Christine Ritson wrote: “A wonderful, strong, kind lady.” A real people person who will be sadly missed by so many pupils and teachers as well as by colleagues from the NUT.”

Notice of her funeral will be given in due course.